Rewriting the fiction of gender binary: Exploring depictions of nonbinary individuals and their construction of gender identity in contemporary (2010+) British and North American fiction

This thesis analyses a selection of recent (2010-2021) literary texts that exemplify the increasing visibility of trans* and non-binary gender identities. This corpus of new queer fiction marks an important evolution in trans* narratives, emphasising stories that resist binary frameworks and medicalised resolutions. Through an exploration of cultural dynamics, social influences, and personal knowledge as a trans* woman, it examines the complexities of gender identity construction. The research asks: To what extent can literary representations of gender diversity advance and inform understandings of identity construction for readers who deviate from the traditional gender binary, and how does literature enable or limit such representations?

This thesis introduces the Situational Gender Fluidity (SGF) model to explore the processes of diverse gender identity construction in new queer fiction. The SGF model contextualises non-binary and gender diverse identities within the literary, temporal, and spatial settings they inhabit, revealing how socialisation both enables and constrains trans* and non-binary expression. As a central, narrative feature of the selected texts, including as Kathleen Winter's Annabel (2010), Alex Reeve's House on Half Moon Street (2018), and Kacen Callender's Felix Ever After (2021), protagonists chart a path towards self-realisation. However, not all fiction presents such journeys as direct or inevitable, as seen in works such as Detransition, Baby! (Peters, 2021). This thesis acknowledges these broader representations while focusing on texts that chart more affirming paths of identity construction.

Fiction is both a reflection of, and a catalyst for, societal understanding of gender identity. While it offers representation and platforms for self-discovery, it also risks being constrained by social norms and literary conventions, which may limit portrayals of fully realised non-binary identities. Through qualitative analysis, intersectionality, queer theory, and autoethnography, this thesis contributes to the evolving discourse on gender diversity in contemporary literature, examining both the assets and limitations of literary representation.